Saddle



A. J. LINDER SADDLE Filed Oct. 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Andrew J Lino er ATTORNEY.

A. J. LINDER Sept. 3, 1935.

SADDLE Filed 001:. 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

Andrew J Lino/er ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 STATS ENT OFFICE SADDLE a corporation of Ohio Application October 4, 1932, Serial No. 636,165

18 Claims.

This invention relates to saddles and particularly to saddles of the type adapted to be used on bicycles, motorcycles, velocipedes and the like.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved saddle of this class.

Another object of my invention is to provide a saddle of the type referred to having an improved reach member and spring construction.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the type referred to, a reach member and spring construction which dispenses with the use of bolts, rivets or the like between interconnected elements thereof.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the type comprising rearwardly disposed and forwardly disposed springs and a reach rod connected respectively to the rearward and forward springs, an improved construction for connecting the reach rod to the forward spring whereby an improved mode of operation of the forward spring is effected.

Another object is to provide a saddle of the class referred to employingthe minimum number of parts and which may be fabricated and assembled at the minimum of cost.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with, the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of a saddle embodying my invention and illustrating the reach member and spring elements thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the saddle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View taken from the plane 3 of Fig; 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modification;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the modification of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated at l the saddle seat, the construction of which constitutes no essential part of my invention and may, according to well known practice, comprise a sheet metal frame 2, an inner or bottom cover 3 of leather, cloth or the like, and an outer cover 4 of leather or the like, and suitable filling material 5.

A U-shaped yoke 6 has the closed end thereof disposed adjacent the frame 2, extending transversely thereof and is hingedly connected thereto by clips I secured to the frame member 2 in any suitable manner. The legs of the yoke 6 depend from the frame asat 8, extending axially through aligned springs 9 and I 0, the spring 9 being an open wound conical spring, and the spring I6 being a closed wound helical spring.

The lowermost convolutions of the spring Iii as at I I are tightly wound upon and grip the end of the side member 8. The end of the lower convolution of the spring 9 and the end of the upper convolution of the spring H] are wound together as at I2I2 to form a pair of transversely axially aligned eyes for the reception of portions of a reach member l3 to be described.

Wound into the eyes [2 also are opposite ends of a brace member I4 formed from wire and preferably rearwardly looped.

The construction of the yoke 6, springs 9 and I0 and brace member l4 constitute no essential part of my invention, and may be variously constructed. One form thereof is illustrated in the patent to Brandt, No. 1,670,563, May 22, 1928.

At the forward end of the saddle, a wire spring I5 is provided comprising a loop portion I6, end portions l7 and an intermediate portion IS. The end portions ll are each secured to the frame 2 in any suitable manner, as for example by offset loop portions H8 and H9 pressed out of the sheet metal frame 2 itself, under which the end portions 11 are first inserted, and which are then pressed back toward the frame and around the portions H to rigidly clamp them upon the frame.

Each of the end portions I! is formed with one or more convolutions l9 to provide the intermediate spring portion l8-and the ends of the convolutions 19 extend rearwardly to form the loop portion E6. The spring thus formed is generally of U-shape with the helical spring convolutions l9 at the closed end of the U, and the ends I! and the loop portion 56 constituting the legs of the U, as viewed from the side as in Fig. 2.

The loop portion I6 has formed in the terminus thereof an eye 20, the eye being formed by disposing portions of the wire from which the loop "5 is made in greater transverse spaced relation adjacent the extreme end of the loop than in portions nearer the intermediate spring [8.

The loop "5 thus provided is spaced downwardly from the frame 2 and the eye 20 is spaced inwardly rearwardly from the spring it so that the eye 20 may move resiliently vertically.

In the construction above described, the ends I! and the loop [6 and the spring l8 are integrally formed from a single piece of wire, but, as it will be understood, these parts may be otherwise formed.

The reachmember I3 above referred to is also formed from a single piece of wire but may be otherwise constructed. When formed integrally, the wire is bent in an intermediate portion to provide a loop 2!, generally of hairpin form, but which in side elevation as viewed in Fig. 2 is generally of ogee curve formation. Rearwardly of the ogee curve form loop 2 l, the wire of the reach member 53' is formed into transversely spaced rearwardly extending portions 22 terminating at their rearward ends in outwardly laterally extending trunnion portions 2323, inserted into the above described eyes i2l2.

The ogee curve form loop 2| above described, is inserted through the eye 2!] to dispose the intermediate portion 241 of the ogee curve in the eye and with one leg portion 25 of the ogee curve formation overlapping the loop ill of the spring In assembling the parts described, the loop 2! is first inserted through the eye 2!! with the side portions 22-22 of the reach member in a dependent position; then the reach member may be hingedly moved around the eye 20 to bring the trunnion portions -2323 into position to be inserted into the eyes l2. The loops 2i and 253 are thus locked together; and with a predetermined degree of tension in the spring it, the lock: preventing retraction of the loop 86 counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2.

,A saddle post'clamp device, illustrated generally at 2?, is clamped upon the portion 212-42 of the reach member 93, and upon a saddle post indicated at 28. When the saddle is in use, the weight of a rider on the seat compresses the spring 9 and puts tension on the spring iii in a well known manner, the load being transmitted through the springs to the eyes I2-! 2 and thence to the trunnions 23 and to the saddle post 28 through the side members 22--22 of the reach member. Weight on the saddle is, also transmitted through the spring l8 and through the eye 20 to the reach member, rocking the eye 20 with a hinging movement around the looped'end of the reach member.

The above described inter-locked construction of the looped end of the reach member and the looped end of the spring l8 thus prevents relative counter-clockwise movement of the loop is of the spring in the spring-retracting direction but permits relative movementin the opposite direction when the spring is resiliently bent tending to move the loop it relatively clockwise; and the juncture of the reach member and the loop I6 is effected without bolts, rivets or the like, and simply by inserting the ogee curve form loop 2! through the eye 20 to bring the parts into the position illustrated.

A very simple construction having the advantages hereinbefore referred to is thus provided.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a spring comprising the portions. l6, l7 and .I8 is provided at the forward part of the saddle similar to that above described; and springs 9 and iii, a brace member M, a yoke member 6 with depending side legs 8 is provided at the rear of the saddle similar to that in the form above described. Inthis form, the reach member is of diiTerent construction.

The reach member comprises a pair of reach bars 4ll4l formed from sheet metal. Rearwardly the reach bars 50 4 0 preferably diverge as at ll-4i and at their extreme rearward ends have trunnions 4242 substantially coaxially disposed, extending outwardly laterally from the reach bars respectively and preferably formed from separate pieces secured to the reach bars.

The trunnions 62 preferably are in the form of rivets comprising each a cylindrical body portion 43, and a head 64, the body portions first being inserted through a suitable perforation in the sheet metal bar 44 and then rigidly riveted into the perforation by an up-set collar 35 on the opposite side of the bar from the head M.

The cylindrical portions 43 extend into the eyes lZ-EZ formed from the end convolutions of the springs 9 and H! as described for the other form.

At the forward ends of the reach bars til iil,

they are connected together by a transverse element "it, also preferably formed from sheet metal. The blank of the element 46 is preferably generally T-shaped, the ends of the cross element of the T having reduced portions ll4'l which are inserted through perforations in the bars 5%) and riveted over as at 58 to rigidly clamp the bars between the riveted portion 48 and. shoulders 49-49 on the element. The element 46 thus rigidly joins the twobars '48. The stem of the T-form, shown generally at 5B, is bent into ogee curve formation when viewed from the side as in Fig. 5.

The reach bars 4d including their trunnions 42-42 and the ogee curve form tongue Ee'may be assembled with the springs at the rearward and at the forward ends of the saddle in a manner similar to that described for the other form, and as will now appear, the mode of the operation of the form of Figs. 4 and 5 will be substan tially the same as that of the other form.

The reach bars 49 as viewed from the side in Fig. 5 may be variously formed. As illustrated,

they are generally of a flat ogee; curve formation a the scope and spirit of my invention without.

sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

i. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective'ends of the reachbar-co'nstruction being connected to the saddle by resilient'devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U-forrn element having a resilient intermediate portion and having one leg .portion secured to the saddle Many and the other leg portion formed with an eye, and

the forward end portion .of the reach bar con-. struction being generally of oge'e'curve formation and projected into the eye.

2. In a saddle, a seat element, and aforwardly.

and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U-form element having legs tending resiliently to diverge, one leg portion secured to the saddle and the other leg portion formed with an eye,

andthe forward end portion of the reach bar constructionbeing generally of ogee curve formation andprojected into the eye.

3. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion form-ed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U- form element having legs tending resiliently to diverge, one leg portion secured to the saddle and the other leg portion formed with an eye, the forward end portion of the reach bar construction being generally of ogee curve formation and projected into the eye and an ogee curve form leg overhanging the eye.

4. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end provided with an eye resiliently depressed, and the forward end of the reach bar construction provided with a portion of generally ogee curve formation projected into the eye.

5. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end provided with an eye resiliently depressed, and the forward end of the reach bar construction provided with a portion of generally ogee curve formation projected into the eye and with an ogee curve form leg overhanging the eye.

6. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in laterally extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device, the bar portions being forwardly joined in a loop, generally of ogee curve formation in side elevati gn, and connected to the forward spring device.

'7. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in laterally extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device, the bar portions being forwardly joined in a loop, generally of ogee curve formation in side elevation, and projected into an eye-form resiliently movable porticn of the forward spring device.

8. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in laterally extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device, the bar portions being forwardly joined in a loop, generally of ogee curve formation in side elevation, and projected into an eye-form resilient downwardly depressed portion of the forward spring device, with an ogee curve form leg overlapping the eye.

9. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U- form element having a resilient intermediate portion and having one leg portion being secured to the saddle and the other leg portion formed with an eye, and the forward end portion of the reach bar construction adapted to be slidab-ly projected into the eye, the reach bar and the said device having engageable portions limiting sliding movement.

10. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle byresilient devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U- forrn element having legs tending resiliently to diverge, one leg portion being secured to the saddle and the other leg portion formed with an eye, and the forward end portion of the reach bar construction adapted to be slidably projected into the eye, the reach bar and the said device having engageable portions limiting sliding movement.

11. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end comprising a U-form element having legs tending resiliently to diverge, one leg portion being secured to the saddle and the other leg portion formed with an eye, the forward end portion of the reach bar construction adapted to be slidably projected into the eye and having a leg overhanging the eye, the said leg limiting retractive sliding movement of the reach bar.

12. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end being provided with an eye, and the forward end of the reach bar construction being provided with a portion adapted to be slidably projected into the eye.

13. In a saddle, a seat element, and a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end being provided with an eye resiliently depressed, and the forward end of the reach bar construction being provided with a portion adapted to be slidably projected into the eye and with a leg overhanging the eye to limit relative retractive movement of the reach bar forward end.

14. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in lateraliy extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device and disengageable therefrom by lateral movement of the bar portions towards each other, the bar portions being forwardly joined in a loop, and connected to the forward spring device.

15. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in laterally extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device and disengageable therefrom by lateral movement of the bar portions towards each other, the bar portions being forwardly joined in a loop, and projected into an eye-form resiliently movable portion of the forward spring'device.

16. A saddle comprising a generally horizontally disposed seat and a reach bar construction connected by rearward and forward spring devices to the seat, the reach bar comprising a pair of rearwardly extending bar portions terminating in laterally extending coaxial trunnion portions engaged with a rearward spring device and disengageable therefrom by lateral movement of the bar portions towards each other, the bar portions being forwardlyjoinedin a loop, and projected into an eye-form resilient downwardly depressed portion of the forward spring device,

' with a leg overlapping the eye.

17. In a saddle, a seat element, a forwardly and rearwardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being' connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward. end being provided with a rearwardly extending element and means adapted to be slidably 'interlinkedwith corresponding means on the reach bar construction to provide a generally sliding hinging connection, and one of said means being provided with a portion overlapping said other means to prevent relative hinging movement of the joined elements in one direction relative to the seat element.

18. In a saddle, a seat element, a forwardly and rearw-ardly extending reach bar construction having an intermediate portion formed to be secured to a saddle post securing means, the respective ends of the reach bar construction being connected to the saddle by resilient devices, the device at the forward end being provided with a rearwardly extending downwardly resilient retractible element and means adapted to be slidably interlinked with corresponding means on the forward end of the reach bar construction to provide a generally hinging and relatively slidable connection therebetween, and one of said means being provided with a portion overlapping the other said means to prevent relative hinging movement of the joined elements relatively away from the seat element. I V g ANDREW J. LINDER'. 

